Fremantle has lost captain Matthew Pavlich for Sunday's crucial AFL clash with Richmond after the club decided not to contest his three-match suspension.

Coach Ross Lyon said the Dockers would not take Pavlich's front-on contact charge to the tribunal and also made it clear he did not condemn his captain for the bump on West Coast defender Mitch Brown.

"From my end and Matthew's end it's a split-second decision you have to make and it went the wrong way," Lyon told 6PR.

"We just need to keep delivering until he gets back, because we know we are a better team with him in."

The Dockers are fifth, equal on points with fourth-placed Sydney, ahead of Sunday's MCG game.

Richmond is sixth, a game and a half plus percentage behind Fremantle.

The Dockers will also host Adelaide and are away against Carlton while Pavlich is suspended.

Pavlich had just two games back after missing 10 with an Achilles injury.

Fremantle was risking a four-game ban if it challenged Pavlich's charge.

His case was the biggest among six players who were offered suspensions out of Monday's match review panel findings.

Geelong star Steve Johnson could be suspended for the fourth time since late last season after he was booked for dropping his knee into the chest of Melbourne onballer Nathan Jones.

He could have escaped with a reprimand if not for a penalty loading for three previous suspensions within the past year.

Johnson missed last year's elimination final loss to Fremantle, then round one this season and Saturday's game was his first since serving a two-game suspension for a high bump on Brisbane's Pearce Hanley.

The penalty loading means he will risk a two-game sanction if he fights his latest charge.

Johnson's former coach Mark Thompson is not surprised the 30-year-old could serve another suspension.